Sami Ahmad, TwoCircles.net
Patna: Eight major Muslim organisations have not only boycotted the iftar gathering hosted by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday but also urged fellow rozedars (fasting Muslims) to refrain from attending it in protest against the Janata Dal (United) support to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. The Bill is set to be presented for passage in the Parliament during the ongoing Budget Session.
The iftar was organised at Kumar’s official residence in the state capital. The Muslim organisations leading the boycott include the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), the Imarat-e-Shariah, the Jamiat Ulema Hind (both Arshad Madani and Mahmud Madani factions), the Jamiat Ahl-e Hadees, the Jamat Islami Hind, Khanqah Mujibia, Patna, and Khanqah Rahmani, Munger.
These organisations, along with others, have raised concerns that since the Narendra Modi government at the Centre heavily relies on Kumar’s 12 Lok Sabha MPs, he holds the leverage to pressure the central government into withdrawing the controversial bill. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured only 240 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, and Prime Minister Modi’s position could have been compromised had Kumar’s JD(U) and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) of Chandra Babu Naidu not supported him.
In an open letter to CM Kumar, these organisations strongly criticised both him and his party for supporting the bill, which, they claim, is at the forefront of the BJP’s agenda.
The letter expressed concern that the bill “threatens to exacerbate the economic and educational backwardness of Muslims”, a situation highlighted in the Sachar Committee report. The organisations accused Kumar of “betraying” his promise of secular governance, claiming that his alliance with the BJP and support for the Waqf Bill represents a breach of his prior commitments.
The letter further stated, “You rose to power promising a secular rule in which minorities’ rights were protected. But your alliance with the BJP and your support for a (proposed) legislation, which is unconstitutional and illogical, is a clear contradiction.”
The organisations stated that if the bill is passed, Kumar and his party would be held accountable for the negative impact on the Muslim community.
In August of last year, Rajiv Ranjan alias Lalan Singh, a Member of Parliament from the JD(U), publicly supported the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha. Muslim leaders met both Kumar and Singh to present their concerns, but these efforts proved futile.
To mitigate the fallout, senior JD(U) leader and Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary attempted to assure the Muslim community that Kumar was committed to their rights and that their concerns would not be harmed. However, his assurances did little to alter the party’s official stance on the bill.
Originally proposed in August 2024, the Waqf (Amendment) Bill led to widespread protests, prompting the Modi government to refer it to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). Several Muslim organisations submitted detailed memorandums opposing the bill to the JPC, headed by BJP’s Jagdambika Pal. However, the organisations now claim that their objections were disregarded and the committee’s report was shaped according to the BJP’s wishes.
Despite multiple attempts to convince Kumar that the bill is both anti-Muslim and unconstitutional, Muslim organisations were reportedly denied opportunities to meet with him. Sources suggest that Kumar is now surrounded by individuals with strong ties to the BJP’s policies and that these advisers discourage direct meetings with Muslim religious leaders. There are also unverified reports claiming that Kumar’s health may be affecting his decision-making capabilities.
The boycott of the iftar party gained significant traction on social media, though local Hindi newspapers largely ignored it. A few Urdu newspapers also failed to cover the protest, but the call to boycott received widespread support within the Muslim community.
Syed Nashoor Ajmal Nushi, the state convener of the All India Muslim Majlis Mushawarat (Registered), Bihar, spoke with TwoCircles.net, stating that the Muslim community’s opposition to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill mirrors their resistance to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC).
“The call to boycott Nitish Kumar’s iftar is a strong message not only to his party but also to the Modi government. This boycott has received support across the state, and those who back this ‘draconian bill’ will be called out and boycotted nationwide,” he said.
Nushi further emphasised that the Muslim community fears that the bill would allow the government to seize waqf properties and vowed to oppose it vehemently. He also announced that a large-scale protest or dharna would be held on March 26, with political parties outside the NDA coalition expected to participate.
“This protest will send the strongest message to Nitish Kumar and Narendra Modi: they must withdraw this bill,” he said adding, “Nitish Kumar still has an opportunity to regain the support of the Muslim community by withdrawing his party’s support to the bill.”